The trade surplus in the 12-nation eurozone shrank to 1.2 billion euros (1.5 billion dollars) in January from 6.1 billion euros in December, the statistics institute Eurostat reported Monday.
The full 15-member European Union, the eurozone plus Britain, Denmark and Sweden, posted a trade deficit of 9.5 billion euros after a surplus of one billion euros in December owing to greater energy imports and fewer exports of machines and vehicles.
Eurostat revised the eurozone's 2003 trade surplus slightly higher, to 72.7 billion euros from 72.5 billion previously, but noted it was a sharp decrease from the 2002 level of 98.9 billion euros.
The full EU posted a 2003 trade deficit of 11.5 billion euros, against a surplus of 7.9 billion one year earlier.
The EU's energy bill showed a deficit of 118.1 billion, against 112.3 billion in 2002. A surplus in trade of machines and vehicles slipped to 87 billion euros from 95.3 billion.
Looking at trade with the EU's major partners, Eurostat published a slightly increased 2003 surplus with the United States of 69.3 billion euros against 66.7 billion.
A deficit with China grew however to 55 billion euros from 47.6 billion, while one with Japan increased to 26.7 billion euros from 25.8.
Within the EU, Germany showed the biggest trade surplus with non-EU countries at 129.6 billion euros, while Britain turned in the biggest deficit at 75.7 billion.